12 Weird Sports Rules You May Not Have Heard Of

Including one that allows fans to use social media to boost a competitor’s performance.
FABRICE COFFRINI via Getty Images

Who knew that taking your shirt off during a track race was forbidden?

French runner Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad, above, learned the hard way at the 2014 European Championships, when he was disqualified for whipping off his top on the home stretch of the 3,000 meter steeplechase.

I did not know that I could be disqualified for such a thing,” he said at the time. “In every sports you can take your vest [off], only in athletics you cannot.”

He’s not the only elite sports star to fall foul of lesser-known sporting rules, however ― and it’s prompted Sports Betting Online to break just some of the more bizarre laws down in this handy infographic:

“At some point or other, following a freakish or specific incident perhaps, these rules were officially written down and ratified,” a Sports Betting Online spokesman told The Huffington Post via email.

“Only every now and then do they ever come up, and that’s usually in a pub quiz round,” he added. “Nevertheless, rules are there to be followed and for better or worse we all have to stick to them if we want to play the game.”

Before You Go

LOADINGERROR LOADING

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot